Hi, i am confused with (7a*8c )-1. Is 1 getting subtracted from the brackets or is the -1 being multiplied by the brackets. How do i know if the -1 can come in front of the equation like this: -1+(7a*8c ). How do i know if the -1 can come in front of the equation like this: -1*(7a*8c). Please answer my confusion

Answer 1

addition is commutative, so
x-1 is just the same as -1+x

Unless otherwise indicated, multiplication is done before addition. If you want to multiply -1 by the expression in parentheses, that would be
(7a*8c)(-1)
where a * is implied between the )(, just as 7a is the same as 7*a

Answer 2

Thanks, so this question can be written as -1+(7a*8c) (adding -1 and (7a*8c)) and (7a*8c)-1 (subtracting 1 from (7a*8c)) would also be right. Is my understanding of this question correct?
Also, -1(7a*8c) (multiplying -1 by (7a*8c)) would be the same as (7a*8c) (-1) (multipling -1 by (7a*8c). Is my understanding of this question correct?